Crimson-crested Woodpeckers may remind you of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker, but they’re a different species. Although they both have red on their heads and markings of black and white on their bodies, they differ slightly. Crimson-crested Woodpeckers don’t have the white markings on the edges of their wings like Ivory-billed Woodpeckers do. They have two white lines on their back that look like a “V” shape, and they have white fronts with a lot of black barring.
They stand about 13-15 inches tall and weigh somewhere between 6 and 10 ounces.1 They can be found in North and South America within forest and open woodland habitats.1&2 They have a very large range, which contributes to their listing as of least concern by the IUCN.3
Like many other woodpecker species we’ve talked about, these birds peck into trees to get to the insects inside. Crimson-crested Woodpeckers eat:1&2
Caterpillars
Larvae
Termites
Ants
Beetles
When they reproduce, both males and females will incubate the eggs for up to two weeks.1&2 They’ll build their nest in a cavity they create in a dead tree, and because they incubate their eggs for such a short time, they stay in the nest longer than other species. Offspring will stay with their parents until its time for them to reproduce again.1
Dive Deep into Your Dissection Experience
Have you tried out our 2 Region Pellet Pack? This includes two owl pellets – one from the Southwest and one from the Northwest. Dissect both and see what dietary differences you can find!
